Description
Okay, so I was craving chicken parmesan one night but didn’t want to deal with all that breading and frying mess. Then I had this lightbulb moment – what if I took all those amazing chicken parm flavors and turned them into a creamy pasta? The result? This absolutely ridiculous Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken Parmesan Pasta that’s basically comfort food heaven in a bowl. It’s got tender chicken, loads of garlic, a silky cream sauce, and enough cheese to make an Italian grandmother weep tears of joy.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs if you want extra flavor)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and black pepper (be generous!)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
For the Pasta & Sauce:
- 1 lb penne pasta (or whatever short pasta you’ve got hanging around)
- 4 tablespoons butter (the real stuff, not margarine)
- 6 cloves garlic, minced (or more if you’re like me and live for garlic)
- 1 cup heavy cream (don’t even think about using half-and-half)
- 1 cup chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
- 1 cup marinara sauce (store-bought is totally fine)
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (pre-grated works too, but fresh is better)
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, but adds a nice kick)
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Finishing Touches:
- Extra Parmesan for serving (because there’s no such thing as too much cheese)
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped
- Fresh parsley for color
- Crusty bread for sopping up every last drop of sauce